BARNSLEY: Reds look elsewhere after Terry Butcher snub

No thanks: Terry Butcher has turned down the chance to become Barnsley's new manager

Dom Howson
Barnsley

RELEGATION-haunted Barnsley have vowed to regroup quickly after Terry Butcher became the second high-profile boss to reject their vacant managerial position in the space of four days.

Following lengthy discussions with senior Reds officials over the last 72 hours, former England captain Butcher opted to stay at Inverness Caledonian Thistle last night. He said it was one of the hardest decisions he has “ever had to make” and the 54-year-old informed Barnsley director Don Rowing at 8pm yesterday his future lies with the Scottish Premier League club.

It is understood Barnsley offered Butcher their biggest ever financial package to try and lure him to Oakwell.

Sean O’Driscoll, the Reds’ number one choice for the role after they parted company with Keith Hill on December 29, also decided against taking the job on Sunday.

Barnsley are bottom of the Championship table and have recorded just five league wins from 26 matches.

Rowing told The Star: “We felt absolutely gutted when Terry told us his decision. We are disappointed. He was the man who ticked all the boxes and the one we would have liked to have managed Barnsley football club.

“I thought Terry came over very well on interview. He is a professional guy and we were confident we had sold the club to him but it was not to be. We have got to have a look around and see what we can do. We may have to do something completely different to what we have been thinking. We will have a meeting today to discuss the way forward.”